Cell type filter



y 24, 1956 E. G. GUNN 2,755,937

CELL TYPE FILTER Filed Jan. 4, 1954 IIIIIIAf/IIIIIIIII/IIIIIA 7 I0 9 BY f ATTORNEY CELL TYPE FILTER Earl G. Gnnn, Racine, Wis.

Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 402,077

6 Claims. (Cl. 210169) This invention relates to cell-type filters and especially the form and arrangement of the filter elements of which the cell is constituted.

One form of cell-type filter presently being produced involves a stack of disk-like elements of porous stock through which contaminated fluids, particularly oil, are drawn from the periphery of the stack to a central opening for the purpose of removing the contaminants. Various forms and relative arrangements of these elements have been employed, some providing for cross-flow, i. e., passing the fluid axially through the elements, or edgewise flow, i. e., passing the fluid through the elements in the respective planes thereof.

The major problems in such an arrangement of elements are (l) Obtaining an easy, rapid flow of a maximum quantity of fluid with a high degree of contaminant removal, (2) the economic formation and assembly of the elements into the finished cell, and (3) maintenance of the cell against easy shrinkage or other distortion during use so as to avoid decrease in its efliciency or too frequent replacement.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved form of filter element and a relative radial angular arrangement of a plurality thereof in a stack for a cross-flow cell type filter; to provide an improved form of element whereby the laminated arrangement of a plurality thereof in a stack constitutes fluid pockets interposed between sector-shaped chambers opening at the periphery of the stack elements and eX- tending radially inward on both sides of the pocket and substantially coextensive with the area of the pocket, whereby the fluid is filtered transversely through an imperforate wall on both sides of a pocket and from which pocket the filtered fluid is drained into a central channel in the cell filter; to provide an improved form and arrangement of a series of superimposed elements such that a substantial portion of the peripheral area of the cell constitutes entrances to chambers overlying both sides of the pockets; to provide an improved form and arrangement of elements of this kind made of two differing configurations one of which may serve primarily as a pocketforming spacer; to provide an improved form and arrangement of elements which permits the respective elements to be peripherally sealed with an air-hardening viscous substance throughout the circumferential portions which define each pocket; and to provide an improved form and arrangement of filter elements of this kind which are economical to produce, which will permit the use of differing types of material for the two types of element, and which will have great endurance under the severest use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view partly elevation and partly section, of a cell type filter, constructed in accordance with this invention, as arranged in its housing;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a plurality of the individual filter elements of two different configurations showing the relative angular arrangement for the formation of the pockets and chambers;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional detail showing the form of the pockets interposed between chambers and indicating the direction of flow of the fluid during the filtering process; and

Fig. 4 is a small, sectional, detail of a modified arrangement of the two filter elements.

The distinctive concept of this invention involves a stack of superimposed filtering elements of two differing disk-like forms one with imperforate and the other with open sector-shaped sections so assembled that the element with the open section is interposed between two elements with imperforate sections to form a series of pockets intermediate sector-shaped chambers substantially coextensive with the area of each pocket, which chambers open at the periphery of the stack of elements to permit the fluid to enter the chambers and spread over on opposite sides of the pocket-forming elements to filter through the imperforate sections into the pockets from which the filtrate is drained into an axial channel formed in the stack by registering openings in the hubs of the elements. Preferably the peripheral portions of the elements, which coact to form the pockets, are sealed so as to preclude entrance of fluid along that boundary of the pockets.

The herein shown embodiment of this invention comprises a plurality of disk-like elements of two ditfering configurations 9 and 10 having sector-shaped imperforate and open sections so arranged that when the elements are superimposed in a stack 11 and angularly arranged they form several axial series of pockets 12, each pocket being closed along the circumferential periphery and interposed between chambers 13. The chambers 13, it will be noted, are substantially coextensive with the pockets 12 and, being open at the circumferential periphery of the stack 11, permit the fluid to be filtered to spread out in the chambers 13 and pass axially through substantially the entire area of the imperforate sections of the elements 9 and 10 into the pockets 12. Such a stack 11 of angularly-arranged elements is supported on a tube 14 for operative positioning in a housing 15, whereto the fluid for filtering is admitted through the inlet 45 and wherefrom the filtrate is discharged through the tube 14. The housing is provided with a drainage opening 46.

The elements 9 and 10 are of two different configurations, one essentially imperforate, the other open. Two of the imperforate elements 9 have an open-space element 10 interposed between them. Each such three elements are then angular arranged between the next three such elements above and below so as to constitute several axial series of pockets 12 interposed between chambers 13.

The element 9, as herein shown, is formed with diametrically-opposed, imperforate, sector-shaped sections 50 united by a hub portion 51 formed with an opening 52. The element 10 is identical in outer contour with the element 9, but has a sector-shaped opening formed in those portions comparable to the sector-shaped sections of the element 9. These open sections 53 are likewise united by a hub portion 51 provided with an opening 52' which, through slots 54, communicate with the opening 53.

Although the elements 9 and 10 are here shown with diametrically-opposed sections 50 and 53 of substantially right angular form, it will be understood that the sections could be of less than right angular form and that the groups of three elements could be successively arranged angularly at other than degrees as herein shown.

The hub openings 52 and 52' are here shown of rectangular form so as to fit a suitable indexing spindle to permit the groups or units of threeelements to be angularly arranged in the desired, superimposed relationship. I

To that end apertures 28 are formed at what might be termed the rounded corners of the sector-shaped sections 50 and 53.

The superimposed angulararrangement of the elements 9 and 19 is most apparent from Fig. 2. An element 10 is so interposed between two elements 9 that the opening 53 constitutes the pocket 12, as explained previously herein. Each three such superimposed elements are positioned between two other such three elements at a ninety degree angle. There is thus formed the chamber 13 on opposite sides of each pocket 12. The chambers 13 are open at the periphery of the stack 11 as indicated at 29 and are substantially coextensive with the area of the pocket 12. These peripheral openings 29 constitute nearly one-half of the peripheral area of thestack 11.

The stack 11, formed of the elements 9 and is, has a seal 32 of some suitable, air-hardening substance applied to the peripheral edges of the superimposed sector-shaped sections 50 and 53 of each three elements: 9 and 16 This precludes the entrance of the fluid into the pockets 12 edgewise in between the abutting faces of these elements.

A stack 11, comprised of the elements 9 and 10, as just described, in placed on the tube 14 between the end caps or plates 33 and 34 and providing a channel 31 extending axially along the tube which communicates with the interior of the tube through an aperture 31a. The stack 11 is supported on the tube 14 between the hub plates 36 and 39 equipped with gaskets 35 and 38 and held in place in the housing by the bolt 41 and spring 42 coaeting with the'housing closure 40 equipped with gaskets 43 and 44.

The elements 9 and 10 shown in Figs. 1-3 are both of the same diameter, hence in the stack 11 their peripheries are in the same exterior circumferential plane. In Fig. 4 is shown an arrangement where the element 10 is of a diameter slightly less than the element 9. This results in the formation of a peripheral recess 55 which will be filled with'th'e seal 32 of an air-hardening substance, further insuring against seepage of fluid into the pockets 12 between the abutting faces of these three elements.

It will be understood, of course, that the elements 9 are formed of a porous or fluid-permeable materal suitable for filtering processes. The thickness of the element and its porosity will be determined by the character of use. The element 10 alsomay be formed of the same material as the element9. However, that is not necessary. As a matter of fact definiteadvantages may accrue where the element 10 is formed of another material than that of which the element 9 is formed. Among those advantages maybe (1) economy, through the use of less expensive material than that of which the element 9 is formed; (2) greater or less vdepth of the pockets 12 through the use of thicker or thinner material for the elements 10 than that used for the elements 9; and (3) greater rigidity of the stack of assembled elements where the elements 10 are formed of firmer material than that of which the elements 9 are formed.

Of whatever materials the respective elements may be formed, the form and arrangement of these elements 9 and 10', especially'when sealed as indicated, results in a and rigid stack 11.

Othervariations and modifications in the details of the Structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

-I claim:

l. A cell-type filter'com'prising, a stack of two differing forms of filtering elements all of the same non-circular 4 ments interposed in such angular relationship between a group of three such elements above and below as to form peripherally-open chambersion opposite sides of the pocket constituted by the one group of three such elements, the imperforate elements being formed of liquid-permeable material.

2. A cell-type filter comprising, a stack of two differing forms of filtering elements all of the same non-circular perimetrical contour but one of which elements has opposed wholly imperforate sections and the other of which elements has opposed open sections, the elements being arranged in a stack with the respective perimeters axially alined and with the open-sections of one element interposed between theimperforate sectionsof two of the other elements to constitute pockets between the two elements and with one group of three such elements interposed in such angular relationship between a group of three such elements above and below as to form peripherally-open chambers on oppositesides of the pockets constituted by the one group of three such elements, the imperforate elements being formed of liquid-permeable material.

3. A cell-type filter comprising, a stack of two difiering forms of filtering elements all of the same non-circular perimetrical contour but one of which elements has opposed wholly irnperforate sections and the other of which elements has opposed open sections, the elements being arranged in a stack with the respectiveperimeters axially alined and with the open-sections of one element interposed between the imperforate sections of two of the other elements to constitute pockets between the two elements and with one group of three such elements interposed in such angular relationship between a group of three such elements above and below as to form peripherally-open chambers on opposite sides of the pockets constituted by the 'one group of three such elements, the imperforate elements being formed of liquid-permeable material, the peripheral edges of each group of three elements being sealed against fiuid penetration by an air-hardening subperimetrical contour but one of which elements has one 4 'or more whollydmperforate sections and the other of whichelements has one or more open sections, the elements being arranged in a-stack with the respective perimeters axially alinedand with the open-section of one element interposed between the .imperforate sections of sweet the otherelementsto constitute a pocket between the,two 'elements v and-,with one-group of three such elestance.

4. A cell-type filter comprising,.a stack of filtering elements of the same non-circular perimetrical contour each having a hub with a central opening and a plurality of radially-disposed circumferentially-spaced sector-shaped sections, the sections for one element being imperforate and for the other element being open for a greater part of the area within the perimeter of the section, these elements being superimposed with the central openings registering axially of the stack with the respective perimeters axially alined and with the open sector-shaped section in one element interposed between and in axial registration withthe imperforate sections of two of the otherelements to constitute a pocket communicating with the central opening through a slot in the one element, the three such superimposed elements being disposed radially between the next three similarly-associated elements above and below whereby a sector-shaped chamber extends inwardly from the periphery of .the stack of elements on each side of the pocket and substantially coextensive with the area thereof to permit the filtering of a fluid through the imperforate sections into the pocket for draining. into the central opening, the one element being formed of liquidpermeable material. 7

5. A cell-type filter comprising, a stack of filtering elements of the same non-circular perimetrical contour-each having a hub with a central opening-and a pair of diametrically-opposed sector-shaped sections, the sections for one elementbeing imperforate and for the otherelement being open for a greater part of the area within the perimeter of the section, these elements being superimposed with the central openings registering axially of the stack with the respective perimeters axially .alined and with the open sector-shaped section in onevelement interposed between and.in axial registration with theimperforate sectionsof two. of the other elements to constitute a pocket communicating with the central opening through a slot in the one element, the three such superimposed elements being disposed radially between the next three similarly-associated elements above and below whereby a sector-shaped chamber extends inwardly from the periphery of the stack of elements on each side of the pocket and substantially coextensive with the area thereof to permit the filtering of a fluid through the imperforate sections into the pocket for draining into the central opening, the one element being formed of liquidpermeable material.

6. A cell-type filter comprising, a stack of filtering elements of the same non-circular perimetrical contour each having a hub with a central opening and a pair of diametrically-opposed sector-shaped sections, the sections for one element being imperforate and for the other element being open for a greater part of the area within the perimeter of the section, these elements being superimposed with the central openings registering axially of the stack with the respective perimeters axially alined and with the open sector-shaped section in one element interposed between and in axial registration with the imperforate sections of two of the other elements to constitute a pocket communicating with the central opening through a slot in the one element, the three such superimposed elements being disposed radially between the next three similarly-associated elements above and below whereby a sector-shaped chamber extends inwardly from the periphery of the stack of elements on each side of the pocket and substantially coextensive with the area thereof to permit the filtering of a fluid through the imperforate sections into the pocket for draining into the central opening, the one element being formed of liquidpermeable material, the peripheral edges of each group at three elements being sealed against fluid penetration by an air-hardening substance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,475 Gauthier Oct. 3, 1944 2,495,095 Ewbank Jan. 17, 1950 2,501,582 Rohland Mar. 21, 1950 2,553,820 Gunn May 22, 1951 2,631,732 Vocelka Mar. 17, 1953 2,682,953 Gunn July 6, 1954 

